New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 17) said mob and vigilantes cannot be allowed to take to the streets and said that that the State of Karnataka must ensure the release of actor Kamal Haasan’s film “Thug Life” in the state.
A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan transferred to the top court the case pending before the Karnataka High Court regarding the non-release of actor Kamal Haasan’s film “Thug Life” in the state over Haasan’s comments about Kannada language and gave one day of time to the state government to apprise it about the release of the movie in the state.
The bench, while pulling up the state government for non-release of the film in Karnataka over controversy over Haasan’s comments about Kannada language, said mob and vigilantes cannot be allowed to take to the streets and rule of law has to be established and guns cannot be put to head of people to stop them from watching the film.
The bench, while giving the state government time of one day to apprise it about the release of the movie in the state, said once a movie has got the clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification, the movie has to be released in all the state.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by one M Mahesh Reddy against non-release of the movie in Karnataka.
The apex court bench was also critical of the High Court for its observation seeking an apology from Hassan over his comments about Kannada language and said it had no business to seek apology.
The High Court criticised Hassan for his comments about Kannada language and said that a “single apology could have resolved the situation.”
The apex court bench transferred to the top court the matter related to the movie pending before the high court and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday.
Hassan-starrer “Thug Life” released in cinema halls across the country on June 5, however, it could not be released in Karnataka after Hassan’s reported comments about Kannada language suggesting that “Kannada was born out of Tamil” made at a promotional event in Chennai sparked a major controversy.
